France approved 35 new sales of military equipment to Israel between May and September 2026, according to research by the Palestinian Youth Movement and French campaign group Urgence Palestine. The groups say the findings challenge the impression that military-related exports have stopped.
What the investigation says
The investigation identified equipment including tank-cooling systems, helmet visors for helicopter and fighter-jet pilots, connectors, electronic components and surveillance systems. The groups say the shipments were destined for subsidiaries of Israeli defence company Elbit Systems. Their report builds on earlier research tracking French military components and exports linked to Israel.
A dispute over the nature of exports
French officials have previously said that items exported to Israel were limited to defensive systems or components intended for re-export, rather than equipment for offensive use in Gaza. The campaign groups argue that the new records show a continued flow of military material. The available report does not by itself establish how every component was ultimately used.
The findings renew debate about France’s export controls and its obligations under domestic and international law. The figures and descriptions are the investigators’ findings; assessing the shipments requires looking at the licences, end users and stated destination of each item.
